WATCH: Joshua Mitchell, the man accused in last week’s fatal hit-and-run, remains behind bars. No application for bail has been made, and the 20-year-old could be facing more charges. Nancy Hixt reports.
CALGARY – The man charged in the hit-and run-gas-and-dash that killed Maryam Rashidi last week made his second court appearance Monday, after being arrested at the home of an surprised Beddington Heights resident.
In the normally quiet northwest community in Calgary, it was a shock for Nevada Bain to come home and find her house surrounded by police.
“I came home one day and there was a bunch of cops outside my house,” said Bain.
Twenty-year-old Joshua Mitchell was arrested at Bain’s house, after meeting her a few months ago.
“My friend asked if he could stay here for a bit because he had nowhere to go, because he got kicked out,” said Bain.
“My mom said it was okay for him to stop by and have a place to sleep.”
Bain claims she had no idea Mitchell had a history with police, and hadn’t seen him for a few days before his arrest at her home. She says she wouldn’t have let him stay if she had known he was already out on bail for dangerous driving.
READ MORE: Man charged in fatal gas and dash had criminal history
“I wouldn’t have let that…I find that stupid to be honest,” she said. “The fact he could just stay in the house and not have told anybody puts a lot of other people at danger.”
Mitchell appeared via CCTV wearing the traditional blue jumpsuit uniform at the Remand Centre on Monday; he remains in custody and hasn’t yet retained a lawyer.
Calgary Chief Crown Prosecutor Lloyd Robertson appeared for Prosecutor Jonathan Hak, saying any request for bail would be opposed.
“I think it’s fair to say it shocked our city,” Robertson told the court. “The case is in its early stages but the charges are very serious, obviously, and the Crown will be opposing any release application that Mr. Mitchell may make.”
Mitchell is charged with criminal negligence causing death, hit-and-run causing death and dangerous driving causing death.
“The initial police investigation is in our hands, but it’s a case that there is going to be a lot of disclosure – there’s still more to come,” said Robertson. “If further charges are warranted after a review of that disclosure then yes, the Crown will take the step of laying additional charges in respect to this matter. I can tell you any criminal charge that is born out on the facts of this terrible case the crown will look at laying those charges it’s a very serious situation obviously.”
Rashidi’s husband Ahmad Nourani Shallo has not been attending court proceedings, but the Crown made a point of speaking to his loss.
“My heart goes out to the family of the victim Ms. Rashidi in this matter, and her family is coping with a terrible loss a terrible tragedy unspeakable tragedy.”
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Rashidi was run over by a stolen pickup truck as she was trying to prevent it from leaving without paying for gasoline June 7.
The young woman, married with a six-year-old son, had recently been hired to work at the Centex gas station on 16 Avenue Northwest, across from the North Hill mall.
The case is put over until June 30.
READ MORE: ‘She was the best thing I had’ – Husband mourns hit-and-run victim
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